Flau’jae Johnson didn't take long to make herself at home in a Seattle Storm jersey. Taking the court for her first WNBA preseason game on Saturday, the rookie guard showed exactly why she was a top-ten pick, scoring 12 points in a narrow 78-76 loss to the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center.

The journey to this debut was anything but standard. Johnson was originally drafted No. 8 overall by the Valkyries on April 13, only to have her rights traded to Seattle that same night for Marta Suarez and a future second-round pick. Despite the whirlwind move, Johnson looked comfortable in the starting lineup, shaking off two early misses to finish the night 5-of-10 from the field in 23 minutes.

During her postgame media availability, Johnson appeared unfazed when reporters asked whether the professional level would be a daunting leap from her collegiate career. The former LSU standout offered a candid assessment of the transition, noting that the adjustment was more about personnel than pace. Johnson explained that while the players are certainly better and the game is notably more physical, the actual speed of play felt identical to what she handled in the SEC. 

Seattle head coach Sonia Raman was encouraged by what she saw from the rookie, particularly on the other side of the ball. Raman noted in her postgame press conference that while the scoring was a plus, Johnson’s focus on the defensive end during her first professional run was exactly what the coaching staff wanted to see.

The atmosphere in the Bay Area was welcoming for the former national champion, who received a loud ovation during introductions. Johnson leaned into the moment, interacting with the crowd and relishing the chance to finally test her game against a professional opponent after weeks of training camp.

Seattle is scheduled to play its next preseason game on Wednesday, April 29, against the Portland Fire. Following the conclusion of the preseason schedule, the Storm will finalize its roster for the upcoming WNBA season, which begins in May.